Key landmark for new Alness Academy

The contract to build a brand new £34 million secondary school for Alness Academy has reached a key landmark with financial closure for the project agreed.

Site works have begun on the Design and Build, Development Agreement (DBDA), which will provide a new building for 660 pupils and will be equipped with sports facilities, two 3G pitches, a 25m swimming pool, a games hall and a gymnasium.

hub North Scotland is delivering the project on behalf of Highland Council and the main works will be carried out by contractor, Kier Construction. The project is due to be completed in the spring of 2020.

The new sports facilities will be managed by High Life Highland and will be available to the community and Alness United to use out with school hours.

The contract has a funding contribution of almost £15 million from the Scottish Government, through the Scotland’s Schools for the Future Programme managed by the Scottish Futures Trust.

Vice Chair of Highland Council's Care, Learning and Housing Committee, Councillor Linda Munro said: “We welcome the news of the exciting project getting underway. The pupils of Alness will greatly benefit from the new facilities and so will the wider community.”

Chair of the Ross and Cromarty Committee, Councillor Fiona Robertson added: “It’s great to see this project has commenced and taking shape. Alness Academy is a major priority for The Highland Council as this is a welcome milestone for the Council, pupils, staff and families of this community school; which is at the heart of the local area.”

hub North Scotland Chief Executive, Michael Padzinski said: “This is a key moment in the work to create an excellent educational facility for the Alness community and we are delighted to help achieve that. We now look forward to continuing our partnership with the Highland Council to deliver the next phase of this exciting project."